My current project

I've got a sister in law who is having child #4. She has 3 girls, and this one is a boy. So I am making a few blankets. This is the one I am quilting.

CupCake Boquets

Here is a fun Valentines Day idea. Anyone wanting to order one, let me know. Or you can try it yourself. It's a fun thing to do especially if you want to save money & still give a cute little gift to your honey. Here is the first one I tried.

If you want to give it a try yourself, here is a link that will help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9qtZwHHmx4

Going Green

We've decided we need to eat a little healthier at my house. So, we will be eating more fruits and vegetables. My kids love it when I make designs or faces with their food. Which I do, when I have time.

Decisions

Well, I decided to stay with the state after all. I will be working full time starting in February. Yup 4 10's. & a 1 hour lunch- so 11 hours a day. That will be quite the adjustment. The thought of not being with my family on my work days saddens me, but having an uninsured family scares me. So Nic & I are watching to see if anything better comes along, but for now, we'll adapt to some new changes.

Recipe of the week

Peanutbutter 'licious




Call it what you want but it's delicious!


1 box reeses puff cereal


1 box p-nut butter captin crunch cereal


( I got the largest size of both)


In a pan, compbine;


2 Cups p-nut butter


2 Cups Karo Syrup


2 Cups Sugar


stir until all melted togethere, & pour over cereal stirring until all is coated.


Side note:I ran out of Karo Syrup, so I used a few marshmellows- worked fine


Side note: for a little healthier snack-- but not by much, 1/2 the recipe & use 1 lg box of cherios or corn flakes insted of the p-nut butter cereals.

Side note: You can also change it up by adding chunky peanutbutter, or chopped nuts, cocoa puffs, or coconut,

DS

What ever happened to reading the paper.

Stockton gets personal with his DS

Happy

Isn't it beautiful!

And it works wonderfully. I've done about 7 loads already.

ahhhhhh. Peace of mind.

Look how happy the Broom and I are.

With Gratitude....

Thanks to my little-- I mean younger brother.
He came to the rescue. He had a spare washing machine sitting in his basement. I cleaned it up & am using it right now.
Thanks Monte and Amber!

When it rains it pours...

and it's started..

Okay, so not only am I looking for a job & loosing my insurance, my washing machine broke today. I knew it was coming, it hasn't worked right for a while. However, with all due respect, Nic's mom bought it from a yard sale, so we aren't sure how old it was then, we've had it for 7 1/2 years. It's been acting a little funny for the last 6 monthes, and today it died!

As excited as I should be to get a new one-- or one that is new to me... we've been trying not to spend too much money for the days to come.

Ice Cream Cakes

Anyone wanting an Ice cream cake for Valentines Day, get your order in now!-- Of course, I can do a regular cake as well. I like to layer mine like this.

Bad picture I know. It goes, cake, ice cream, cake.

I usually frost with a whip cream frosting & most decorations are done with regular frosting.

For those who are healthier than me, I can do vanilla cakes with sherbet or frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. & use a whip cream with less sugar or decorate with fruit.

Halloween

What do you think Stockton wants to be for Halloween this year?

We found a batman mask at walmart & decided to try it on.

Cake Flowers

What did I do Monday & Tuesday afternoons you ask......

Making cake flowers. I haven't made them since class, I had such fun making then. I am glad I remembered how. I stole the cake picture from Kim's blog. Stockton had had enough & we had to leave before it was put together.

http://www.spaghettiheads.blogspot.com/

She is so creative! Everything on this cake is edible. EVERYTHING

hurray

My blog is no longer Blah! I recommend the link posted up top. Anyone wanting a cute background while thecutestblogontheblock fixes their site try this one!

It's official

I've given my office my resignation. My last day will be the end of January.
Still looking for work, part time.
problem- Insurance... can't have uninsured kids...I will probably get them on CHIP.
I am taking my kids in for well child check ups this week, before the insurance is gone.

Cutest Blog

Anyone know what happened to thecutestblog.com? I would LOVE to update my background, but it appears as thought their site isn't working & hasn't been for about a week.

Can anyone tell me of another site that is just as cute & easy to use?

Last day in the AZ

Saturday-- Last day..

I was feeling quite crappy. I had had a huge migrain & had taken 2 pills w/in 12 hours & was not able to take any more. I started doubling up on the Motrin. We got up & got ready for Brooklyns baptism. What an exciting day for her.

After the baptism, we came back for cold cuts, salads, chips & dip, cakes, cheese cake, rice krispie treats. Ahh nothing like a full stomach for the ride home. Me, my kids & my dad left at 2 and took the Vegas way home.

This was the scenery for the 1st 1/2 of the ride.

It was fun to see the way Cacti grow. Like going throught a canyon in Utah & seeing pine trees, they are the same way. Maybe most of you aren't fascinated by this, but being as that was my first time seeing wild cacti, it was neat.

This is a new bridge they are buliding that goes over hoover dam.

This is hoover dam at night.

We arrived home at 2 am Sunday Morning. ahhh home sweet home.

Gotta love these Utah sunsets.

More from AZ

New years day, we went to the sketchers outlet for a new years day sale.

$450.00 & 22 pairs of shoes later, we were done!

Most everyone went swimming after that, I stayed back with Stockton & we took a nap. This was one of my worst days, because of my illness. Once done with swimming, we got 5 pizza's from papa murphy's, & watched the bowl games. We passed the place in Phoenix that holds the fiesta bowl. They had a game on Saturday. So another night of food and hanging out. Also a good time to play a nintendo DS or a PSP.

Recipe of the week

My 2 favorites

Blue Cheese
1 pkg blue cheese
1 cube butter
1 pkg cream cheese
~ These should all be unwrapped, and placed in a bowl for a few hours until all are at room temp. You can use a spoon, but the easiest thing I have found it to mix them together with my hands-

Once mixed, form into 2 medium balls or 1 large ball.
You can also roll around in chopped nuts.
Wrap in saran wrap & place in fridge until ready for use.


Italian Cheese
2 pkg cream cheese
1 pkg good seasons itilian dressing (dry)
1 cup shreaded cheese (medium or sharp)

Mix together at room temp.
Once mixed, form into 2 lg balls or 3 med balls.
You can also roll around in chopped nuts.
Wrap in saran wrap & place in fridge until ready for use.

Here are some ideas on how to display your cheese ball. The pine cone one uses almonds.

Looking for a job......

Me too.

I was told that for the reasoning of Budget Cuts, my position was being eliminated. They would either take me Full time, or not at all. That would mean Poor little Stockton would be at the sitters for 12 hours a day. I just can't handle that. Only seeing my kids for 3 hours a day, waking them up at 5:30 to be at the sitters by 6:30 & picking them up at 6:30 in the evening. I just can't do it. So... I will be working until the end of the month, & then will be in need of a job. I am looking now & applying. Sure is slim pickin's. I am looking for part time with or with out benefits. I can get my kids on CHIP if the job is without benefits. But that means no coverage for me & Nic. Bummer.
Such are the times.

AZ

AZ vacation on Thursday...

Thursday we went swimming. Did I pack my suit-- nope-- I was told it would be too cold. So I went to the local walmart thinking they would be in stock year round- uhhh Nope. I found some bottoms on clearance for $1.00 & a pair of shorts on clearance for $5.00 & a tank top on clearance for $3.00 gotta love clearance! I'd show you a picture, but I don't have one. I did take a picture of me, since I didn't have any of me so far. Here it is;

Those of you who know me well are thinking Amber, Swim??? That doesn't sound like her. Well you are right, I sat in the hot tub. No swimming for me. I was sick remember. but even healthy I wouldn't have swam.

Looks like the kids were having a ball!

This game has been dubbed "Sam Samus" Throwing the football to the person who is catching it as they dive into pool.

The hotel also had a mini- mini golf putting green, maybe 2 holes.

Then home for a quick nap & dinner-- What was dinner you ask-- PF CHANGS Yummy. Then Grandpa & Grandma opened their Christmas presents.